Vacuum-pressure printing frame



A'. T. KoPPE VACUUM PRESSURE PRINTING FRAME 2 SheetsShet l yFiled `May17, 1923 INVENTOR. if? /exna/er /p/ve A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,232

A. T. KOPPE VACUUM PRESSURE PRINTING FRAME Filed May 17, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

; l l f' ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ALEXANDER T. KOPPE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DIRECTOPLATE COE-PORATION, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VACUUM-PRESSURE PRINTING IFRAME.

lApplication led May 17, 1923. Serial No. 639,669.

The invention relates to vacuum pressure frames, and has for its objectto provide a device of this character wherein a negative is received andheld on a sealing strip by springs carried a cover plate, and the coverplate cooperating with a ange of the sealing strip for forming anairtight chamber around the negative, from which chamber and thechamber' formed by the negative and the plate, air may be sucked forcreating a vacuum between the negative and the cover plate, therebyinsuring .a close engagement of the press plate with the negative. Theair is sucked from between the negative and the press plate during thevacuum forming operation, thereby causing the negative and press plateto be forced together by atmospheric pressure and insuring the holdingof the press plate in adjusted position on the negative during thephotographic reproduction of the image :trom the negative on the pressplate.

A further object is to provide a vacuum pressure frame wherein anegative is held yieldably in engagement with a sealing strip, while apress plate is disposed on the negative within a chamber, in whichchamber a vacuum is created and the air withdrawnv :trom between thepress 'plate and the negative and from the chamber, thereby causing 'thepress plate and negative to be pressed into close contact and to be heldsecurely in the exact positions they have been placed in, in relation toeach other.

A further object is to form the cover plate springs suiciently strongwhereby they will not be iexed when the vacuum is formed within the.chamber of the frame, and consequently will maintain the negative inclose airtight engagement with the sealing strip.

A further object is to provide a yieldable hinged connection between thehinged end ot the cover plate and the base plate, thereby allowing thecover plate to be adjusted or assume a position relative to the plane ofthe glass negative, or incident to the variation and thickness oit theglass. Also to provide an adjustable clamping and holding means carriedby the base and cooperating with the free end of the cover plate forholding and clamping the cover plate in closed position.

A further object is to provide the cover plate with a nipple having apassage in communication with the chamber extending around the sides ofthe negative, to which nipple a hose may be attached leading to a pumpfor forming a vacuum within the frame.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawings, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed Without departing from the spirit of the invention. f

In the drawings Figure l is a top plan view of the frame.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the frame taken on line2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the frame..

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of one side of the frame.

Figure 5 is a side elevation o the hinged end of the frame.

Figure Gis a detail view showing the cover plate holding member.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing a side elevation of one of thenegative engaging springs.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates the base plate of theframe, which base plate is preferably rectangular shaped as shown, andis supported by brackets 2, which may be secured-to a vertical orhorizontal support, for supporting the vacuum frame, either in ahorizontal or vertical position. The rectangular shaped frame l isprovided with an inwardly extending relatively wide flange 3, to whichflange is secured a sealing strip 4, by means of anglebars 5, throughwhich screws 6 extend into the flange 3. The sealing strip 4 is providedwith a flange 7, which extends beyond the outer edge 8 of' the frame l,and with a iiange 9 at its inner edge, which is not as high as the ange7. However the flanges 7 and 9 are spaced from each other, therebyforming, when the coverplate.

10 is closed, a rectangular shaped chamber l1L extending entirely aroundthe frame. When'n it is desired to make a press plate impression, thenegative 12 is placed in the frame with its sides resting on the innerflanges 9 of the sealing strip, which strip is preferably formed fromrubber. After the negative l2 has been placed in position, the presslplate 13 is .properly positioned on the ne tive, and then the covervplate is closed. Vhen the cover 'plate 10 is closed the outer sidesthereof engage the sealing strip flanges 7, and the, oppositelyldisposed bowed leaf springs 14,

. which are secured at at one of their ends to the inner side of thecover, (see Figure 7) engage the opposite vsides of the negative 12 inregistration with the flange 9 of the sealing strip 4 and form anair-tight binding connection between the negative `and sealing strip.v Srings 14 are sufficiently strong to preventeakage between the negativeand flange 9 when air is sucked from the rectan u- Q10, the

- l leaI lar shaped chamber 11 and from the cham er 16 formed by thenegative 12 and the cover mrpose of which-will presently appear. overplate 10 is provided with a the passage 18 of which is in registrationwith the chamber 11, air may be sucked for creat- -ing a vacuum withinthe chambers 11 and 16. When a vacuum is created in said chambers theair is withdrawn from the region between lthe negative 12 and the pressplate 13 and from the region between the pressplate 13 and the coverplate 10 so that' the flangesv 7 and 9 are compressed by the outsideatmospheric pressure, thus causing the cover plate to move inwardly andpress theA press plate 13 against the negative 12 to produce a close.contact of the negative and press vplate and \tohold the press platesecurely in position on" the negative. By providing vacuum means, thenecessity of using or providing mechanical means for holding the pressplate and negative in contact is obviated, and consequently the breakingof the negative incident to undue pressure is also eliminated.

One endof the cover plate 10 is hingedly l connected at 19 to shafts 20,which shafts are slidablymounted in bearings 21 of bosses 22 carried bythe adjacent end of the base 1', and

consequently allows a movement of the cover plate 10 in relation to thebase 1 when the cover plate is closed. Secured to the ends of theslidable shafts 20 are collars 23, and inuterposed between said collarsIand the bosses 22 are coiled springs 24, which coiled springs l`exertan inward pull on the hinged end of the cover plate 10, thereby insuringa close and binding engagement of the cover plate with `the flange 7 ofthe sealing strip, consey quentlyfinsuring an airtight engagementbetween' the cover plate and the flange 7 when thecoverplate isf'closed:The yieldable sup l porting of the shafts 2O also allow the cover plateto conform to any4 irregularities which may exist in the flanges 7 ofthe sealing strip or in the innerl surface of the cover plate. After thepress plate is properly ositioned, the cover plate 10-is closed, an thehooks 25 arevhooked over the U-shaped member 26 vcarried by the free endof the GOVQI nipple 17, to which may be attached a hose. ng to a pump,and through which nipple y plate. Hooks 25 are pivotall connected at 27to a handle member 28, whc handle member nhas its end pivoted at 29 toa'block 30, adjustably mounted on a bolt 31 carried by the base 1. Thepivotal oint 29 is intermediate the pivotal points 2 and the base plate1, and consequently it will be seen that when the handle member is movedto the position shown in Figurel'3, the free end of the cover plate 10will befforced into close and binding engagement with the flanges of thesealing strip 4. By adjusting the nuts 32, on the i lbolt 31, it will beseen that the clamping action maybe Varied for insuring an airtightjoint betweenthe cover plate and the scalingl strip, orto adjust thedevice according to the thickness of the negative 12.l Springs 24 au--tomatically allow the hinged endof the cover plate to adjust itself tothe thickness of the ne ativc 12, or to irregularities in the sealingstr1p or cover plate.

After the press plate has been positioned anda vacuum created forexpelling air from the chambers of the frame and from between the pressplate and negative, the image on the negati-ve may' be reproducedphotographicallyin the usual mannerby a light disposed to the negativeside of the frame.

From the above it will be seen that a vacuum pressure frame is provided,wherein the negative is resiliently held in an airtight conditionwithout use of mechanical means for holding the same, as is now thepractice, and one wherein the presspla-te is held on the negativewithout use of mechanical means by expelling air from between the pressplate and the negative for securely holding the press plate in the exactposition on .the negative.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. A vacuum pressure frame compr1s1ng a base plate, spaced yieldableseahng flanges carried by said base plate, a cover plate hingedlyconnected to the base plate, the outer sealing flanges engaging thecover plate, the inner sealing flanges being adapted to engage one sideof a negative, yieldable members carried by the cover plate and adaptedto en gage the other side of the negative and hold the same inengagement with the inner seal-v v ing flanges, said cover and negativeforming incassa means for exhau air` from betweensaid plates, saidyieldab e members being sailiciently strong to prevent unseating of :thenegatives during the air exhausting operation.

3. A vacuum pressure frame comprisinga base plate, a cover platehingedly and yieldably -connectednto the base plate, clamping means forclamping the free end of the cover.

f the negative and means whereby air may be.

plate to the base plate, achanneled sealing member extending around thebase plate thereby forming spaced anges, said cover plate having abinding' engagement with the outer seallng flange, spring means carriedby the cover platefand registering with the inner flange of the channeland forming means for holding a negative in close airtight engagementwith the inner flange of the seal- 'ing channel and means whereby airmay be exhausted from. between the negative and cover plate and from thechamber formed by the channeled member.

4. A vacuum pressure trame ocomprising cooperating base and coverplates, space yieldable sealing flanges carried by one of saidl plates,one of said yieldable sealing flanges being adapted to support anegative and yieldable members carried by one of sai plates andcooperating with one of the yieldable sealing flanges for holding thenegative.

5. A vacuum pressure frame'comprising cooperating base and cover plates,spaced resilient sealing flanges carried by the base plate, therebyformin a chamber around the the base plate when t ecover plate isclosed, spring means carried by the cover plate-and registering withonev of the spaced resilient the negative `when air is exhausted fromthe frame. l l 8f A vacuum pressure frame comprising a base plate, ayieldably hinged cover cariied f by said base late, sealing meansinterposed between the ase plate and cover and with which thecover-cooperates for holdin a negative in spaced relation to the cover,'yie dable means carried bythe cover for engaging exhausted from betweenthe negative and the cover. l .v

9. In combination, a rectangular. frame having'an' opening to permitlight Ito pass therethrough, a negative mounted over said opening, aresilient sealing member xedon said frame and'engaging one side of saidnegative `around said opening, a sensitized late adapted to contact withthe other side o said negative, aplate adapted to engage the side ofsaid sensitized plate opposite said negative,

means for forming an air vseal aroundv the tive, a platevadapted toengage the side of said sensitized plate opposite said negative,

a .second sealingvm'ember attached to said frame and/enga ingsaid platearofund said sealing anges and `forming means for hold-n .negativeoutwar ly pf the edges of said negacooperating plates, a channeledsealing member extending around one of said plates and with whichsealingmember theother plate cooperates,.and yieldable means carried'by one ofysaid plates and cooperatin with the sealing means for holding a negatlvein airtight engagement with the sealing means, means for exhausting airfrom between the negative and plate, said yieldable means beingsuiciently strong to prevent unseating of tive, and means topermit theair tobe ex' hausted from the region between saidnegative and saidsensitized plate.

having an opening to permit light, to pass therethrough, a negativemounted over sald glw 11. In combination, a rectangular frame opening, asealing member carried by said frame and engaging one side of saidnegative aroundy said opening a sensitized plate adapted to'conta'ctwith the other side of said negay tive, a plate adapted to engage theside of said sensitized plate opposite said negative, a second sealingmember attached to said frame and engagingsaid plate around saidnegative outwardly of the edges of said n tive, means to permit the airto be exhauste from the regionV between said negative and saidsensitized' plate, and means for resiliently connecting said frame andsaid plate.

In testimony whereof I aix -my si ature.

- ALEXANDER T. KO PE.

